DIFFERENT ANGLE by Kenneth Rijock
Two Florida residents are facing federal felony charges after it was discovered that they created ficticious churches to fraudulently obtain religious-travel licenses from OFAC to allow 4500 people to fly illegally to Cuba from the United States. The defendants, David Margolis and Victor Vazquez, charged individuals who wanted to visit Cuba, but had no legal reason to obtain a license, the sum of $250 per person, pursuant to their illicit scheme. Each prospective traveler, who obtained a permit after paying the fee through a travel agency in Miami, misrepresented that he or she were engaging in full-time religious activities during the visit, which constitute a lawful reason to travel to an OFAC-sanctioned nation.
The defendants were charged, in Miami Federal Court, with "Knowingly and willfully making false, fraudulent & ficticious statements and representations of a material fact" on the license applications.
Whilst we doubt that you were banking the non-existent organisations, here are the names of the bogus churches, which were purportedly located in Florida, Oregon, Colorado and Alabama, though the documents sent to OFAC were sent from Florida. It is possible that the defendants maintained bank accounts in these names. Of course, there are legitimate churches with similar names in other areas, so it is suggested that if a personal visit by a member of your staff discloses a bricks-and-mortar facility, rest assured it is not one of the offending bogus organisations, but one with a deceptively similar name.
- Outreach Hispanic Industries, Littleton, Colorado.
- The First Church of Christ, Winter Garden, Florida.
- Woodland Church of Christ, Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
- Interact Faith Ministry, Beaverton, Oregon.
- Church of Life of Ocoee. Ocoee, Florida.
- Assumption Chrich of Christ, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Research Note: United States vs. Vazquez, et al, Case No. 0:07-mj-06076-LSS (S.D.Fla. 2007).
The facts and opinions stated in this article are those of the author and not those of World-Check. World-Check does not warrant the accuracy of any facts and opinions stated in this article, does not endorse them, and accepts no responsibility for them.
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